Dyed wrinkle-resistant and durable-press cotton fabrics

Abstract

A cellulosic fabric is treated with a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of: an adduct from an amide and glyoxal, an acetal derived from a dialdehyde and an aldehyde other than formaldehyde and an acidic catalyst. The catalyst and crosslinking agent is of sufficient amount and concentration to impregnate the fabric and produce wrinkle-resistance and smooth-drying finishes when dried from about 3-10 minutes at from about 60 DEG -100 DEG C. and then cured from about 1-5 minutes at from about 120 DEG -180 DEG C. The resultant fabric is then dyed.

We claim 
     
       1. A process for producing a dyed fabric composed entirely or in part of cellulose that has been rendered wrinkle-resistant and selfsmoothing comprising: (a) treating a cellulosic fabric with a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of: an adduct from an amide and glyoxal, an acetal derived from a dialdehyde, and an aldehyde other than formaldehyde, and an acidic catalyst, said crosslinking agent and acid catalyst being of sufficient amounts and concentrations to impregnate and render said cellulosic fabric wrinkle-resistant and self-smoothing;   (b) and then drying and curing said fabric for sufficient time at sufficient temperatures to render said cellulosic fabric wrinkle-resistant and self-smoothing;   (c) subsequently dyeing the cured fabric.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 including an additional step of washing the fabric after curing. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 wherein the cellulosic fabric is cotton. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 3 wherein the fabric is dried for about 3 to 10 minutes at from about 60° to 100° C. and cured for about 1 to 5 minutes at from about 120° to 180° C. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 wherein the crosslinking agent is from about 5-12% 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone and the catalyst is from about 0.5-2.0% magnesium chloride. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 4 wherein the crosslinking agent is from about 10-20% 1,1,4,4-tetramethoxybutane and the catalyst is from about 1.6-2.8% magnesium chloride. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 4 wherein the crosslinking agent is from about 6-20% glutaraldehyde and the catalyst is from about 2.0-3.0% magnesium chloride. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 4 wherein the crosslinking agent is from about 10-20% 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and the catalyst is from about 0.2-0.8% magnesium chloride hexahydrate and from about 0.2-0.8% citric acid. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 4 wherein the acid catalyst is a metal salt selected from the group consisting of: magnesium chloride, zinc nitrate, and zinc floroborate.